// by Emily Jones //
Since her rise in New York’s underground scene during the ’90s, Chloë Sevigny has achieved the status of one of the coolest artists in the cultural landscape of Gen-X America.
She has also cemented herself as a style icon for those taking cues from the era’s restless youth. Nostalgic and authentic, Sevigny wears her influences on her sleeve: her cultural inspirations are inextricable from her clothing. The subculture and artistic scenes which most fascinate her are apparent in everything she wears.
As a teenager, she embodied the ethics of the ’90s DIY art scenes of New York, either thrifting or making her own clothes. Recognition came when she was spotted on the streets of Manhattan for her unique style. Soon after, there were numerous internships with fashion magazines, modelling stints, as well as starring in music videos for bands such as Sonic Youth. The latter highlights her links to the culture of alienated youth and music spreading across America at the time.
Nostalgic and authentic, Sevigny wears her influences on her sleeve: her cultural inspirations are inextricable from her clothing.
In time, she quickly came to embody the style of independent art scenes in New York. For instance, her acting debut in Larry Clark’s low-budget Kids, exploring the lives of hedonistic New York teenagers, won recognition in the city’s independent art scenes. From there she began to move in circles of actors, artists, filmmakers and musicians who worked together. With a stint of cult films under her belt at the end of the ’90s, she later went on to achieve success in an array of mainstream roles such as ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ and ‘American Psycho’.
However, she has never seemed to stray from her independent, artistic style that she gained recognition for in the ’90s. This commitment to the unique has distinguished her throughout her career and remains to be one of her definitive traits to this day. It is demonstrated in her preference for vintage shopping over the new, and her endeavours into her own fashion design. Her collaboration with Opening Ceremony, where she presented a collection with live music from independent musicians and models holding protest signs saw her vision fulfiled. It is apparent how culture is as important to her as the materiality of the clothes themselves.
From the androgynous style of her early ’90s buzzcuts to her days as the muse of Miu Miu and other high-profile brands, she’s never lost her integrity. She demonstrates a genuine interest in fashion; celebrating the wild and eclectic.
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Featured images:
https://www.sleek-mag.com/article/chloe-sevigny/
https://celebmafia.com/chloe-sevigny-casual-style-shopping-venice-december-2015-444298/
https://www.vogue.com/article/chloe-sevigny-style-icon-casual-friday-celebrity-fashion-girls
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